Dereliction Of Duty
A great event yet I know better than to tell
anyone, I keep a low profile and take the
adrenalin-high in my stride, no rejoicing
about challenges faced and overcome
Filing beaming smiles in my mind without
comment, no writing reports, all is well,
Corney and Judy are satisfied with my
assistance; keep memories to myself
No sharing anything with unwilling ears,
ensconced in quiet and calm, offering
no unwelcome words, returning to
hostility, warfare and chaos
No embroidering recent events, delegates
were content with services rendered as
they were ushered from A to B while I
observed protocol, liaising with
Service-providers on request; the delight
in little things; humour, fun and hardship
shared a secret firmly entrenched in my
heart not to give offence as before
Today I can be trusted to look suitably
depressed because that's how I feel
as a lowly civil servant in dereliction
of duty due to the fact that
I enjoyed ushering instead of suffering
suffocation in the space where long
lines of meaningless terms flow
over my desk…
poem by Margaret Alice Second
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Related quotes
A Cavalry Soldier
With loud talking and laughter,
And a long, careless stride,
He paces the crowded pathway,
With head high in pride.
And mean men passing beside him
Shrink, as from one unclean,
From the strong son of England,
The servant of the Queen.
In the forefront of battle
I think I see him ride,
With the drawn sabre gleaming
That swings at his side;
With a bearing erect and stalwart,
And a look calm and keen,
The strong son of England,
The servant of the Queen.
When the drums beat to battle,
With a quick-leaping breath,
'Mid the rush and hurry of warfare
He rides down to death.
And the waiting and toil and hardship
Are as if they had not been
To the strong son of England,
The servant of the Queen.
When the wild charge is over
And the safe ground they gain,
He may hear a cry from behind him
Of a comrade in pain.
And back on his way of mercy
To the smoke-mantled scene
Goes the strong son of England,
The servant of the Queen.
poem by Cicely Fox Smith
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Growth of Free Verse from the Metrical Verse.
When you think and feel
in terms of iambs or trochees
and sing them in series within,
you feel the pulse of a regular
rising or falling rhythm.
The recurring feet or beats make the lines
monotonous or surfeiting;
may be dull and flat at times..
The increasing anapaests
Makes the movement fast
But dactyls keep the tempo slow.
The epics and long tales of the past
with thrilling and grilling events
recharged our minds to linger long
in tasting of those sonorous lines.
You pen the shoddy lines
of words and phrases you think,
with a natural mix of humour and rhetorics
images and word-music
in long end-stopped or short enjambed ones.
Free verse lines of syncopation
blossom out of syncronised patterns
to sing the beauties of the mundane
and supreme things.
poem by Rajendran Muthiah
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Early Works - Feelings
In my mind and heart,
I find joy
knowing you by small words,
but never knowing
the way you feel.
Deep within my thoughts
I ponder
on the question
do your feelings
correspond with ones
my heart and my mind produce,
yet you know
little of my feelings really
for life and fate
has held me out of reach
of your life for so long.
Maybe between the small words
and quiet smiles
I can find a sign
of how your feelings flow.
Yet on the other hand,
if I’ve read things wrong
a one-sided love affair might grow.
So unconsciously in the corridors
where love lies in wait,
I stride cautiously
gaining admiration for you
at a surprising rate.
I must not
fall too quickly
for if I do
the floor might give way
and I shall be hurt
in the fall.
So I tread with caution
overturning each stone as I go.
Upon reaching, the end
there won’t be much I don’t know,
or will there.
I might know all about you
in every detail,
it might be illustrated,
but your feelings
are something only you can tell me.
So with heart and mind
I plunge forward
hoping, wishing, and praying
the right answer I will find.
18 August 1968
poem by David Harris
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A real poem
What is real poem?
Is it flow of words or natural theme?
Does it echo sound of water?
Does it have capacity to alter?
To reduce the agony and pain?
To give honest call to rain
Words to flow in the direction of sea
Mix with the splendid music of tree
No words of differing
No more suffering
Helping hand with some offering
Music to their help in altering
The complete scene in harmony
Bees to sit at once place with more honey
Peace and calm with flow of words
Is it not the message of lords?
poem by Hasmukh Amathalal
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Service which is rendered without joy helps neither the servant nor the served. But all other pleasures and possessions pale into nothingness before service which is rendered in a spirit of joy.
quote by Mohandas Gandhi
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Protocol
Who are these ones who would lead us now
To the sound of a thousand guns
Whod storm the gates of hell itself
To the tune of a single drum
Where are the girls of the neighborhood bars
Whose loves were lost at sea
In the hills of france and on german soil
From saigon to wounded knee
Who come from long lines of soldiers
Whose duty was fulfilled
In the words of a warriors will
And protocol
Where are the boys in their coats of blue
Who flew when their eyes were blind
Was God in town for the roman games
Was he there when the deals were signed
Who are the kings in their coats of mail
Who road by the cross to die
Did they all go down into worthiness
Is it wrong for a king to cry
And who are these ones who would have us now
Whose presence in concealed
Whose nature is revealed
In a time bomb
Last of all you old seadogs
Who travel after whale
Youd storm the gates of hell itself
For the taste of a mermaids tail
Who come from long lines of skippers
Whose duty was fulfilled
In the words of a warriors will
And protocol
song performed by by Gordon Lightfoot
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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I Cannot Go Ahead
I CANNOT GO AHEAD
I cannot go ahead-
Today is not the day -
I just don’t have the right feeling in me-
I confess
I make excuses-
Out of the confession and excuses
I try to overcome
By writing these poor lines.
I feel in spite of all I have done
Or tried to do
That I have truly done nothing
And all depends only
On my building my confidence
By writing this would- be- poem now.
And now that I have done it
I not knowing whether it real or not
I feel, wrongly or not,
‘I am beginning to open and flow again’.
‘
poem by Shalom Freedman
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Invisible Inner Power
Chronic pain is unstoppable, the doctor said,
I remember a time I was pain-free, a time of
joyous being, I wrote line upon line of new
delight in the belief great effort would make
the world different; then the challenges set
before me kept growing without respite
I learnt that the way of the believer is steep,
life took its toll and my body gave up - time
to turn my eyes to the invisible inner power
diffusing physical life, fighting chronic pain
for so long means only meditation is left
and I should stay in the eye of the storm
The book I wrote is the life I have led, challenges
faced and overcome and the things I discarded
after trying them out in my mind and finding that
harmony and beauty led somewhere else…
19 June 2012
poem by Margaret Alice Second
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Silence
When I was cub reporter I
Would interview the Great,
And sometimes they would make reply,
And sometimes hesitate;
But often they would sharply say,
With bushy eyebrows bent:
"Young man, your answer for to-day
Is - No Comment."
Nigh sixty years have called the tune,
And silver is my pate;
No longer do I importune
Important men of state;
But time has made me wise, and so
When button-holed I shake
My head and say: "To-day, I've no
Comment to make."
Oh, silence is a mighty shield,
Verbosity is vain;
let others wordy warfare wield,
From arguments abstain;
When faced with dialectic foes
Just shrug and turn away:
Be sure your wisest words are those
You do not say.
Yea, Silence is a gleaming sword
Whose wounds are hard to heal;
Its quiet stuns the spoken word
More than a thunder peal;
Against it there is no defense,
For like the grave-yard sod
Its hush is Heaven's eloquence,
The VOICE OF GOD.
poem by Robert William Service
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Father, I Know That All My Life
"My times are in Thy hand." -- Psalm XXXI.15
Father, I know that all my life
Is portioned out for me,
And the changes that are sure to come,
I do not fear to see;
But I ask Thee for a present mind
Intent on pleasing Thee.
I ask Thee for a thoughtful love,
Through constant watching wise,
To meet the glad with joyful smiles,
And to wipe the weeping eyes;
And a heart at leisure from itself,
To soothe and sympathise.
I would not have the restless will
That hurries to and fro,
Seeking for some great thing to do
Or secret thing to know;
I would be treated as a child,
And guided where I go.
Wherever in the world I am,
In whatsoe'er estate,
I have a fellowship with hearts
To keep and cultivate;
And a work of lowly love to do
For the Lord on whom I wait.
So I ask Thee for the daily strength,
To none that ask denied,
And a mind to blend with outward life
While keeping at Thy side;
Content to fill a little space,
If Thou be glorified.
And if some things I do not ask,
In my cup of blessing be,
I would have my spirit filled the more
With grateful love to Thee --
More careful -- not to serve Thee much,
But to please Thee perfectly.
There are briers besetting every path,
That call for patient care;
There is a cross in every lot,
And an earnest need for prayer;
But a lowly heart that leans on Thee
Is happy anywhere.
In a service which Thy will appoints,
There are no bonds for me,
For my inmost heart is taught "the truth"
That makes Thy children "free;"
And a life of self-renouncing love
Is a life of liberty.
poem by Anna Laetitia Waring
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Is There a Better Love to Give
Is there a better love to give,
Than that which is left...
To miss,
And be remembered?
To know that it is love.
And love is what it truly is!
Is there a better relationship to have,
Than one that is committed.
Giving, sharing, devoted.
Loyal and always trusted?
With no fears or tears of being 'busted'
Because of a lack of trust.
Is there a better life to have,
Than knowing what one has
Is not up for grabs.
But is clear and specific.
There and kept reminisced.
To make one happy and glad it exists.
If there is anyone who can say,
Sometimes we have to go our separate ways.
To strengthen a shared space,
That is graced with respect.
To come back to make love had even better!
Although it was great when it was temporarily left?
What other kind of love can be on anyone's mind?
Knowing what is there is seen.
And does not leave one blind.
That kind of love is hard to find,
Today.
Tomorrow.
Or at any other time.
Especially if it is known.
And one can pick up a telephone,
To call and say exactly that.
No matter where that special someone,
May be 'temporarily' at!
With all lines of communication open.
poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar
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These Words
Do you see these words?
Each one I selected,
With you in my mind.
I took the time...
Searching my heart.
Feeling each emotion,
I wanted to let flow.
Desiring with a wish,
Just for you to know...
These words from me,
Would be meaningless.
If your heart does not hear,
My voice.
And that's what I wish,
To whisper in your ears...
These words!
poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar
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What Is Being Shared
What is being shared with you today...
May have nothing at all to do with yesterday.
Or a re-creation of those thoughts
That crossed our minds.
And it's okay...
If we choose to let them fade away!
What is being shared with you today...
Has a 'now-ness' about it!
Attached to a feeling,
You can feedback instantly!
There is no request for a thought process.
There is nothing confessed between us,
Life threatening.
Or sitting between peril,
And a miraged oasis in a desert!
What is being shared with you today...
And enjoyed,
Is conversation!
We are communicating using it!
AND...
Making eye contact!
poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar
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Happy Birthday Baby
My dearest Love
I wish today that you'll find complete peace within you're heart
I wish today that a sense of calm embraces you and comforts you
I wish today that you feel proud of who you are
I wish today that you will take a few minutes to reflect on what a wonderful person you are
and what you mean to others
I wish today that you will take a few minutes to reflect on your own specialness and your own kindness
I wish today that you will be surrounded with laughter and smiles
I wish today that you will be happy
I wish today that fond memories of family and friends will warm your heart
I wish today to be an extra special day for you
I wish today that your happiness will last until all things end
and lastly, I wish that in some small special way, you will be able to feel my presence with you, just knowing that I am here and that I am thinking of you
Happy Birthday Baby
poem by Bradley Lester
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Poetry
Only place where I feel at home is poetry
Everywhere else I am always lost
Nothing seems proper, when verses of English poems are not present
All that I feel like doing is write and write
Sometimes, I do admit that I do get lost
However, I really belong only with poetry
Still, I always feel that nobody ever does understand my feelings
A blank space is always present within my heart
As sometimes I start to feel that things which I express are not good enough
I do not really know why?
This is just how I feel sometimes
Since, often the mode of being depressed comes to my life
Then, I become a depressed poet who has only past memories
Nothing else I have as remaining to love or care
However, still I keep on penning things, only to still remain alive
Otherwise, I would be dead without words
Only place where I belong is poetry and here I feel being at home.
poem by Rohit Sapra
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You Had Your Chance
Well its been a while
Since I looked into your eyes
Never dreamed Id see you tonight
And its interesting that i
Just dont feel a thing
For the so called love of my life
We used to be close
(but you didnt love me)
We used to be best friends
(but you never really cared)
I let you into my soul
(didnt know you couldnt be trusted)
It took me so long to forget
(all the little things we shared)
And now you want me back again
After my heartache and suffering
I was your fool
But thats all in the past
So sorry boy, but you had your chance
See, I spent so many sleepless nights
Trying to block you from my mind
I was so convinced
Id die without you once upon a time
Now my eyes are open and I can see
You were devious and shady
Only trifling with me
We used to be close
(but you didnt love me)
We used to be best friends
(but you never really cared)
I let you into my soul
(didnt know you couldnt be trusted)
It took me so long to forget
(all the little things we shared)
And now you want me back again
After my heartache and suffering
I was your fool
But thats all in the past
So sorry boy, but you had your chance
Where were you when I needed you most
Wouldve done anything to hold you close
Wouldve given the world to be back in your arms
But you left me so torn apart
And now you want me back again
After my heartache and suffering
I was your fool
But thats all in the past
So sorry boy, but you had your chance
song performed by by Mariah Carey
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Queen à la Marie Antoinette
Come, let us toast, today and evermore,
Madame La Pompadour - Queen à la
Marie Antoinette - of Civil Servants
When continuous absence without leave
was revealed Management refused to be
blamed and called her breach of Labour
Regulations a regrettable psychiatric event
managers prove they were innocent by
rewarding her innovative behaviour
Building her a new office so she can come
and go as she wants, accountable to no-one,
no manager thus in dereliction of duty
Let us toast the eternal reign of the Miracle-
Working Madame La Pompadour, Scourge
of all Government Departments
Teaching common, inferior civil servants the
meaning of her New Imperial Reign over
Labour Relations!
poem by Margaret Alice Second
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What Shall I Do Today?
Today,
all the events shall be taken as God's wish.
Today,
I shall love everyone.
Today,
I shall speak only truth.
Today,
I shall have pure and clean thoughts.
Today,
I shall spend the whole day in pursuit of Happiness.
Today,
i shall be polite and nice to people.
Today,
I shall not curse to anyone.
Today,
Whatever work is assigned to me shall be completed.
Today,
I shall be courteous to people.
Today,
Who ever approaches me with a problem or request shall go back satisfied.
Today,
I shall try to reform myself as much as possible.
Today,
I shall repent for all my ill deeds.
poem by Ginni Aggarwal
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Loneliness
Adrenalin overflow and my last healthy meal
five days ago, caught in chemical imbalance
feeling as jittery and confused as a mentally
deranged patient, dreaming of the calm and
peace brought about by an even flow of joie
de vivre
Tired of electric surges of adrenaline that put
me on top of the world just to let me fall down
into Purgatory, interspersed with brief spells in
hell, not an enjoyable way to live life, up high I
am delighted, just to feel like death and des-
truction afterwards
From tomorrow it shall be bland vegetables
and fat-free meat dishes - I HATE the lack
of control over moods and feelings brought
about by my body's reaction to foodstuffs,
this keeps me chained to a desk job where
all excitement slowly dies
Only loneliness in conscience and duty
survives...
poem by Margaret Alice Second
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An everyday hero's farewell
I don’t have words today
Just silence
As I sit here feeling
How much I will miss you
Everyday
I don’t have words today
To capture the million stories we’ve shared
Over laughter, and sadness
More than a little, madness
And each brought us to this day
I don’t have words today
That will hug your heart
Always, with love
So you’d know that I’m never
Far, from you
I don’t have words today
That convey how proud I am of you
Of your many acts of kindness
Of humour in the face of sadness
You are a hero, to me.
poem by Anita Atina
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